Potassium (K+) leakage, oxygen consumption, glucose depletion and level of ATP formation were determined to elucidate the potential target site(s) of MBT on the sapstain fungus O. floccosum. Treatment of O. floccosum with MBT caused an efflux of intracellular K+ ions from the cells, and the rate of leakage increased with increasing MBT concentrations up to a certain value. This observation suggests that a primary site of action of MBT occurs at the plasma membrane level. The study also showed that there was no inhibition of respiratory activity at lower concentrations of MBT (0.01mM and 0.1mM), but at these lower concentrations, glucose consumption and ATP formation were affected. The inability of O. floccosum to actively metabolise sugar and produce energy indicated that MBT is acting as an energy uncoupler.

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